Enviva Commemorates First Shipment of Sustainable Biomass to Japan

Enviva Commemorates First Shipment of Sustainable Biomass to Japan

Delivery of Renewable Fuel to Support Japan’s Progress Towards a Clean, Carbon-Free Economy

BETHESDA, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Enviva Partners, LP (“Enviva”), a leading renewable energy company specializing in sustainable wood bioenergy, today announced that its first shipment of sustainable wood pellets is on its way from Port Panama City in Florida to Japan’s Iwakuni Port.

“Worldwide demand for renewable solutions that can help mitigate climate change right now continues to grow immensely,” said John Keppler, Enviva Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We are very proud of our operations in the Southeast and our export terminals that enable us to safely, stably, and reliably deliver a product that displaces coal and helps countries like Japan meet their climate change goals in the most cost-efficient way while ensuring reliable and dispatchable energy generation.”

“We are honored by the trust and responsibility our Japanese customers have placed in us to be the core supplier of renewable fuels to such an important project mitigating climate change and are privileged to be a part of their success,” Keppler added.

Enviva’s first shipment carried approximately 28,000 metric tons of wood pellets made from low-value wood sourced in the U.S. Southeast. Sustainable bioenergy provides a viable solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions that is available today and will enable Japan to meet its recently announced goal of being carbon-neutral by 2050. By using sustainable wood pellets instead of coal, heat and power producers in Japan will be able to reduce carbon emissions by more than 85% on a lifecycle basis, providing a significant reduction in emissions for the world’s fifth-largest greenhouse gas emitter while also providing grid stability.

“The Port of Panama City and Enviva’s first shipment of sustainable biomass to Japan is a major milestone for Florida’s Second Congressional District,” said Florida Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D. “This partnership between Enviva and the Port of Panama City will not only boost the local and state economy; it will provide alternatives to conventional power sources internationally.”

“The Port of Panama City is proud to be a part of Enviva’s sustainable supply chain, which takes low-value wood from private landowners in Florida and ships it to customers around the world who use it to generate clean, renewable energy for tens of thousands of homes and businesses,” said Wayne Stubbs, executive director of the port.

This week’s shipment marks the first of many to a global economic powerhouse where demand for a long-term supply of sustainable biomass continues to grow as the economy moves away from fossil fuels. Japan’s feed-in tariffs (FiTs) for renewable energy, along with the government’s commitment to shut down or decarbonize 100 coal plants, have enabled more than 3 million tons of long-term demand for wood pellets to be contracted by Enviva. Most of such agreements with the company’s Japanese customers extend to 2040 and beyond.

To learn more about the voyage of a Southeastern U.S. wood pellet, take a look at our video, Lifecycle of a wood pellet, here.

About Enviva Partners, LP

Enviva Partners, LP (NYSE: EVA) is a publicly traded master limited partnership that aggregates a natural resource, wood fiber, and processes it into a transportable form, wood pellets. The Partnership sells a significant majority of its wood pellets through long-term, take-or-pay off-take contracts with creditworthy customers in the United Kingdom and Europe. The Partnership owns and operates nine plants with a combined production capacity of approximately 4.9 million MTPY in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida. In addition, the Partnership exports wood pellets through its marine terminals at the Port of Chesapeake, Virginia and the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina and from third-party marine terminals in Savannah, Georgia, Mobile, Alabama, and Panama City, Florida. To learn more about Enviva Partners, LP, please visit our website at www.envivabiomass.com and follow us on social media @Enviva.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and information in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements.” The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “foresee,” “should,” “would,” “could,” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. These forward‑looking statements are based on the Partnership’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on it. Although management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Partnership will be those that it anticipates. All comments concerning the Partnership’s expectations for future revenues and operating results are based on the forecasts for its existing operations and do not include the potential impact of any future acquisitions. The Partnership’s forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond the Partnership’s control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the its historical experience and its present expectations or projections. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the volume and quality of products that it is able to produce or source and sell, which could be adversely affected by, among other things, operating or technical difficulties at the Partnership’s wood pellet production plants or deep-water marine terminals; (ii) the prices at which the Partnership is able to sell the its products; (iii) the Partnership’s ability to successfully negotiate and complete and integrate drop-down and third-party acquisitions, including the associated contracts, or to realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions; (iv) failure of the Partnership’s customers, vendors, and shipping partners to pay or perform their contractual obligations to it; (v) the Partnership’s inability to successfully execute its project development, expansion, and construction activities on time and within budget; (vi) the creditworthiness of the Partnership’s contract counterparties; (vii) the amount of low-cost wood fiber that it is able to procure and process, which could be adversely affected by, among other things, disruptions in supply or operating or financial difficulties suffered by the Partnership’s suppliers; (viii) changes in the price and availability of natural gas, coal, or other sources of energy; (ix) changes in prevailing economic conditions; (x) unanticipated ground, grade or water conditions; (xi) inclement or hazardous environmental conditions, including extreme precipitation, temperatures, and flooding; (xii) fires, explosions, or other accidents; (xiii) changes in domestic and foreign laws and regulations (or the interpretation thereof) related to renewable or low-carbon energy, the forestry products industry, the international shipping industry, or power, heat or combined heat and power generators; (xiv) changes in the regulatory treatment of biomass in core and emerging markets; (xv) the Partnership’s inability to acquire or maintain necessary permits or rights for the Partnership’s production, transportation, or terminaling operations; (xvi) changes in the price and availability of transportation; (xvii) changes in foreign currency exchange rates or interest rates, and the failure of the Partnership’s hedging arrangements to effectively reduce its exposure to the risks related thereto; (xviii) risks related to the Partnership’s indebtedness; (xix) the Partnership’s failure to maintain effective quality control systems at its production plants and deep-water marine terminals, which could lead to the rejection of the Partnership’s products by its customers; (xx) changes in the quality specifications for the Partnership’s products that are required by its customers; (xxi) labor disputes; (xxii) the Partnership’s inability to hire, train, or retain qualified personnel to manage and operate its business and newly acquired assets; (xxiii) the effects of the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union on the Partnership’s and its customers’ businesses; (xxiv) the Partnership’s inability to borrow funds and access capital markets; and (xxv) viral contagions or pandemic diseases, such as the recent outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus known as COVID-19.

For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause the Partnership’s actual results to differ from projected results, please read our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q most recently filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise.

Maria Moreno

[email protected]

+1-301-657-5560

KEYWORDS: Maryland United States Japan North America Asia Pacific

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Other Energy Environment Forest Products Alternative Energy Energy Natural Resources

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News Corp to Participate in UBS Global TMT Virtual Conference

News Corp to Participate in UBS Global TMT Virtual Conference

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
News Corp announced today that Chief Executive Robert Thomson will participate in the UBS Global TMT Virtual Conference on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. The session will begin at 4:40 p.m. EST.

To listen to a live webcast, please visit the News Corp website at https://newscorp.com/investor-relations-2/presentations/. A replay of the webcast is expected to be available at the same location for a period of time following the conference.

About News Corp

News Corp (Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content and other products and services. The company comprises businesses across a range of media, including: digital real estate services, subscription video services in Australia, news and information services and book publishing. Headquartered in New York, News Corp operates primarily in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and its content and other products and services are distributed and consumed worldwide. More information is available at: http://www.newscorp.com.

News Corp Investor Relations

Michael Florin

212-416-3363

[email protected]

News Corp Corporate Communications

Jim Kennedy

212-416-4064

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: New York United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Film & Motion Pictures TV and Radio Other Communications Licensing (Entertainment) Publishing Online Marketing Mobile Entertainment Advertising Entertainment Communications

MEDIA:

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Ecolab Schedules Webcast of Industry Conference for December 9, 2020

Ecolab Schedules Webcast of Industry Conference for December 9, 2020

ST. PAUL, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Ecolab Inc. CFO Daniel J. Schmechel will address financial analysts virtually at the BMO Growth and ESG Conference on Wednesday, December 2. Ecolab will offer a live webcast of Mr. Schmechel’s presentation. Details for the webcast are as follows:

TIME:

10:00 a.m. Eastern Time

 

 

DATE:

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020

 

 

DURATION:

Approximately 30 minutes

 

 

LOCATION:

www.ecolab.com/investor

 

 

ARCHIVE:

A replay of the webcast will be available through Dec. 30, 2020.

To access the webcast, visit the Events and Presentations section of Ecolab’s Investor website at www.ecolab.com/investor and click on the webcast details.

About Ecolab

A trusted partner at nearly three million commercial customer locations, Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. With annual sales of $13 billion and more than 45,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions, data-driven insights and personalized service to advance food safety, maintain clean and safe environments, optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiencies and sustainability for customers in the food, healthcare, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. www.ecolab.com

Follow us on Twitter @ecolab, Facebook at facebook.com/ecolab, LinkedIn at Ecolab or Instagram at Ecolab Inc.

(ECL-C)

Michael Monahan

651.250.2809

Andrew Hedberg

651.250.2185

KEYWORDS: United States North America Minnesota

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Chemicals/Plastics Manufacturing

MEDIA:

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Jim Ayers to Step Back From Executive Chairman Role at FirstBank

Jim Ayers to Step Back From Executive Chairman Role at FirstBank

Stuart McWhorter Elected as Board Chairman

NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Jim Ayers, who bought a tiny, rural West Tennessee bank in 1984 and turned it into an $11 billion regional powerhouse, announced today he was stepping down as Executive Chairman of the board of directors of FirstBank and its parent company FB Financial Corporation (NYSE: FBK) effective Jan. 1, 2021.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201202005883/en/

Jim Ayers, FirstBank (Photo: Business Wire)

Jim Ayers, FirstBank (Photo: Business Wire)

Ayers, who owns 29 percent of the publicly traded bank, will retain a board seat and expects to continue working at the bank, focusing his time calling on customers.

“Having just celebrated my 77th birthday, I thought this would be a good time to dial back some of my responsibilities to give me more time to spend with my family and on my hobbies,” Ayers said. “The bank is strong, we have excellent leadership at the top with Chris Holmes as President and CEO, and we have a strong and diverse board. I can go hunting and fishing, and that’s what I intend to do.”

Holmes, age 56, joined FirstBank as Chief Banking Officer before being named President in 2012 and adding the CEO’s role the following year. Holmes is a native of Lexington, Tenn., and worked previously in executive roles at The South Financial Group in Greenville, S.C., and National Commerce Financial in Memphis. He serves as the current chairman of the Tennessee Bankers Association along with several other boards including Delta Dental of Tennessee and the Tennessee Hospital Association.

In a special called meeting, the board elected Stuart McWhorter as Chairman and named Ayers as Vice Chairman and Founder.

“Jim Ayers has been and will continue to be an enormous presence at FirstBank,” Holmes said. “In electing an independent board chairman, we were guided by the Company’s commitment to the highest standards of corporate governance. With Stuart McWhorter’s experience in business and leadership and his 12 years on the Company’s board, he is an ideal chairman for us, and we expect the transition to be seamless as we move into the new calendar year.”

McWhorter recently rejoined the board of directors after stepping back from public service. He originally joined the board in 2006 before accepting a role in Governor Bill Lee’s Administration. As Commissioner of Finance and Administration, McWhorter led the drafting of two fiscal year state budgets, provided leadership to the department’s various divisions, co-chaired the Governor’s Healthcare Modernization Task Force, and served on several boards and commissions on behalf of the governor, including the State Building Commission, State Funding Board and the Investment Committee of the state’s Pension Fund. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Lee also appointed McWhorter as Director of the TN Unified Command Group to streamline coordination across the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Tennessee Department of Health and Tennessee Department of Military.

Ayers built successful health care and real estate ventures in addition to moving into banking. He and a business partner bought Farmers State Bank in Scotts Hill, Tenn., in 1984. It was then a rural bank with $14 million in assets.

The bank was moved to Lexington, Tenn., in 1986 after they acquired the assets of First National Bank of Lexington. The name was changed to FirstBank, and from there, the business expanded across the state and eventually into Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama.

The bank was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016 through the largest banking IPO in Tennessee history. The IPO exceeded many analysts’ expectations on the initial trading day and has continued to be a leader among its peers.

Ayers and his wife, Janet, have been very active in the community. In 1999, he established The Ayers Foundation, which supports a wide range of programs and institutions, with an emphasis on education. Other philanthropic activities include the establishment of the Ayers Institute at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, The Ayers Children’s Hospital in Jackson, Tenn., and the Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning and Innovation at Lipscomb University.

In 2019, Ayers was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. He is the recipient of numerous other awards, including the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America, and holds honorary doctorates from Freed-Hardeman University, Union University, Bethel University and The University of Memphis, where he was the first alumnus to receive this distinction.

About FirstBank

Nashville-based FirstBank, a wholly owned subsidiary of FB Financial Corporation (NYSE: FBK), is the third largest Tennessee-headquartered bank, with 80 full-service bank branches across Tennessee, South Central Kentucky, North Alabama and North Georgia, and a national mortgage business with offices across the Southeast. The bank serves five of the major metropolitan markets in Tennessee and, with approximately $11.0 billion in total assets, has the resources to provide a comprehensive variety of financial services and products.

Jeanie Rittenberry

FirstBank

[email protected]

(615) 313-8328

Roger Shirley

MP&F Strategic Communications

[email protected]

(615) 259-4000

KEYWORDS: United States North America Tennessee

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Banking Professional Services

MEDIA:

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Jim Ayers, FirstBank (Photo: Business Wire)

Working Mother Media Names VF Corporation One of the “Top 75 Companies for Executive Women”

Working Mother Media Names VF Corporation One of the “Top 75 Companies for Executive Women”

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories, has been named one of the 2020+ Top Companies for Executive Women by Working Mother Media (WMM). WMM continues to explore ways to move more women into top positions, while highlighting the successes at these trailblazing companies.

This list is the most definitive list of top workplaces for women who want to advance through the corporate ranks. It celebrates companies that champion women’s advancement, with a focus on succession planning, profit-and-loss role, gender pay parity, support programs and work-life balance programs.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by WMM as one of the 2020+ Top Companies for Executive Women. We’ve worked very hard over the past several years to accelerate our gender parity efforts and are proud of the progress we’ve made in hiring, retaining and promoting more women into senior roles across the organization, as well as on our board of directors,” said Anita Graham, VF’s Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs. “We are working every day to ensure that our global workforce is as diverse as the consumers we serve, and we encourage all of our teams around the world to work with an inclusive mindset, because our differences are what make us better together.”

“Because what gets measured gets done, our Top Companies list stresses the number of women in senior positions,” says Betty Spence, president of the National Association for Female Executives. “Most important, we are the only organization that counts women holding revenue-generating operations positions with profit-and-loss responsibility, as those are the jobs that are the path to the top. Companies need to pay attention because that number dropped in the past year, even pre-COVID-19.”

Highlights of the 2020+ Top 75 Companies for Executive Women include:

  • The percentage of women corporate executives increased 1 percentage point to 31 versus 30 percent in 2019.
  • Female executives responsible for divisions worth more than $1 billion decreased to 30 percent from 38 percent in 2019.
  • Forty-three percent of women at the Top 75 Companies are among the top 20 percent in terms of pay, up from 37 percent in 2019.
  • Sixty percent of the Top 75 Companies offer formal sponsorship, down from 71 percent in 2019.

Methodology

The 2020+ Top 75 Companies application includes more than 200 questions on topics including female representation at all levels, but especially the corporate officer and profit-and-loss leadership ranks. The application, based on 2019 data, tracks and examines how many employees have access to programs and policies that promote advancement of women and how many employees take advantage of them, plus how companies train managers to help women advance. To be considered, companies must have a minimum of two women on their boards of directors, a US-based CEO and at least 1,000 US employees.

About VF Corporation

Founded in 1899, VF Corporation is one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies connecting people to the lifestyles, activities and experiences they cherish most through a family of iconic outdoor, active and workwear brands including Vans®, The North Face®, Timberland® and Dickies®. Our purpose is to power movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and our planet. We connect this purpose with a relentless drive to succeed to create value for all stakeholders and use our company as a force for good. For more information, please visit vfc.com.

About WMM

Working Mother Media (WMM) is a strategic professional services firm that partners with leading companies to build inclusive talent strategies by providing the tools needed to maximize the business benefits of DE&I. With four decades of expertise in what drives cultures of equity and belonging, powered by a research-based, data-driven understanding of the employee experience, WMM continues to champion a more equitable future. To learn more, visit workingmother.com.

VF Corporation Contact:

Colin Wheeler

Senior Director, Corporate Affairs & Communications

[email protected]

WMM Contact:

Stefanie McNamara

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Colorado

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Women Human Resources Textiles Professional Services Consumer Fashion Manufacturing Retail

MEDIA:

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Marillyn Hewson Joins Chevron’s Board of Directors

Marillyn Hewson Joins Chevron’s Board of Directors

SAN RAMON, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) announced that Marillyn A. Hewson has been elected to Chevron’s board of directors, effective on January 1, 2021. She will serve on the Audit Committee of the Board.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201202005926/en/

Chevron Corporation announced that Marillyn A. Hewson has been elected to Chevron’s board of directors, effective on January 1, 2021. (Photo: Business Wire)

Chevron Corporation announced that Marillyn A. Hewson has been elected to Chevron’s board of directors, effective on January 1, 2021. (Photo: Business Wire)

Hewson, 66, is executive chairman of Lockheed Martin Corporation. She served as Lockheed Martin’s chairman, president and chief executive officer from January 2014 to June 2020 and held the positions of president and chief executive officer from January 2013 to December 2013.

“It’s truly an honor to welcome Marillyn to Chevron’s board,” said Chevron Chairman and CEO Michael Wirth. “Marillyn is one of the world’s most accomplished business leaders. She brings valuable global business experience as well as decades of perspective on international commerce and geopolitics to our board, and will make our company better.”

Hewson joined Lockheed Martin more than 35 years ago as an industrial engineer. During her career she has held leadership positions across the corporation. She currently serves on the board of directors of Johnson & Johnson, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, the Board of Governors of the USO, and as chair of the Catalyst Board of Directors. Hewson has served on several U.S. government advisory bodies, including her current appointment to the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and her Master of Arts degree in economics from The University of Alabama and has completed executive development programs at Columbia Business School and Harvard Business School.

Chevron Corporation is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. Through its subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide, the company is involved in virtually every facet of the energy industry. Chevron explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and lubricants; manufactures and sells petrochemicals and additives; generates power; and develops and deploys technologies that enhance business value in every aspect of the company’s operations. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

Braden Reddall — +1 925-842-2209

KEYWORDS: California United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Energy Other Energy Oil/Gas

MEDIA:

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Chevron Corporation announced that Marillyn A. Hewson has been elected to Chevron’s board of directors, effective on January 1, 2021. (Photo: Business Wire)

CrowdStrike to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conferences

CrowdStrike to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conferences

SUNNYVALE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRWD) today announced that it is scheduled to present at the following virtual investor conferences:

UBS Global TMT Virtual Conference

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Presentation Time: 9:05 a.m. PST

Barclays Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications Conference

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Presentation time: 10:30 a.m. PST

The presentations will be webcast live and archived on CrowdStrike’s investor relations website at ir.crowdstrike.com.

About CrowdStrike Holdings

CrowdStrike® provides cloud-delivered endpoint and cloud workload protection. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), the CrowdStrike Falcon® platform protects customers against cyberattacks on endpoints and workloads on or off the network by offering visibility and protection across the enterprise.

© 2020 CrowdStrike, Inc. All rights reserved. CrowdStrike® and CrowdStrike Falcon® are among the trademarks of CrowdStrike, Inc.

Investor Relations Contact

CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc.

Maria Riley, Senior Director of Investor Relations

[email protected]

669-721-0742

KEYWORDS: California United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Data Management Security Technology Mobile/Wireless Networks Internet

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AMC Networks’ Head of Investor Relations, Seth Zaslow, To Step Down at End of Year

Nicholas Seibert, Currently VP of Corporate Development, to Lead Investor Relations

NEW YORK, Dec. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AMC Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMCX) announced today that Seth Zaslow, the longtime executive who leads the investor relations function for the company, is stepping down at the end of the year to pursue other opportunities.

The company’s investor relations group will now be led by Nicholas Seibert as Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations. Seibert will continue to report to John Hsu, AMC Networks Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Treasurer.

“We thank Seth for playing an important role leading our investor relations efforts since becoming a separate public company nearly a decade ago; we will miss his professionalism, smarts and good humor and know he will go on to pursue new, great opportunities,” said Josh Sapan, President and CEO of AMC Networks. “We look forward to having Nick and John bring their deep understanding of the media and technology sector, as well as their capital markets experience, to bear in communicating our growth story to the investor community.”

“My years at AMC Networks have been among the most rewarding and fulfilling of my career,” Zaslow said. “I’m very proud to have been a part of the leadership team that took this company public and of the relationships that we’ve built and fostered in the subsequent years with the investment community. I look forward to building on the knowledge I’ve gained during my time at AMCX in the next chapter of my career.”

Zaslow joined AMC Networks in 2011 and oversaw the creation of the investor relations function for the Company in connection with its successful spin-off from Cablevision Systems Corporation. Prior to joining AMC Networks, he served in various senior financial and operational roles at Cablevision, Time Warner Inc. (predecessor to WarnerMedia) and Time Warner Cable (since acquired by Charter Communications).

Seibert joined AMC Networks in 2017 and currently serves on the board of directors for Next Games and Levity, AMC Networks’ production services and comedy venues business. Prior to AMC Networks, Siebert worked at GAMCO Investors, Inc, where he was a buyside analyst focused on TMT equities. He started his career in the mergers and acquisitions group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Hsu joined AMC Networks in 2011 and oversees the company’s cash management, investment strategies, capital structure planning and debt portfolio management. He is also responsible for evaluating strategic business opportunities including mergers and acquisition, corporate development and digital investment activities. Prior roles include serving as VP of Financial Planning at Cablevision Systems Corporation; and as an investment banker, with Bear, Stearns & Co.’s Media & Entertainment Corporate Finance Group and SG Cowen’s Gaming, Lodging and Leisure Group. He began his career as a Senior Auditor at Arthur Andersen LLP.


About AMC Networks Inc.


AMC Networks is a global entertainment company known for delivering high-quality content to audiences and a valuable platform to distributors and advertisers. The Company, which operates several of the most recognizable brands in entertainment, manages its business through two operating segments: (i) National Networks, which principally includes AMC, BBC AMERICA, IFC, SundanceTV and WE tv; and AMC Studios, the Company’s television production business; and (ii) International and Other, which principally includes AMC Networks International, the Company’s international programming business; AMC Networks SVOD, the Company’s targeted subscription streaming services, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now and UMC; Levity Entertainment Group, the Company’s production services and comedy venues business; and IFC Films, the Company’s independent film distribution business. More information is available at www.amcnetworks.com.



Corporate Communications    
Georgia Juvelis (917) 542-6390       
[email protected]  

Exco Technologies Announces Results for Fourth Quarter and Year Ended September 30, 2020

  • Sales
    of $
    100.7
    million for the quarter
    and $
    412.3
    million for the year
  • E
    PS of
    $0.
    27
    for the quarter
    compared to
    $0.
    17
    last
    year
  • EBITDA of
    $
    15.8
    million in the quarter
    compared to $13.3
    million
    last
    year
  • Free Cash Flow of
    $
    41.7
    million or
    $1.04
    per share
    in Fiscal
    2020
  • Balance sheet
    in a $
    26.7
    million
    n
    et
    c
    ash position
  • Enhanced COVID-19 operational safety measures continue

TORONTO, Dec. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Exco Technologies Limited (TSX-XTC) today announced results for its fourth quarter and year ended September 30, 2020. In addition, the Company announced the quarterly dividend of $0.095 per common share which will be paid on December 31, 2020 to shareholders of record on December 17, 2020. The dividend is an “eligible dividend” in accordance with the Income Tax Act of Canada.

  Three Months
ended September 30
Twelve Months
ended September 30
  (in $ millions except per share amounts)
  2020 2019 2020 2019
Sales $
100.7
$121.8 $
412.3
$507.3
Net income for the period $
10.7
$6.8 $
27.4
$26.6
Diluted earnings per share from net income        
Reported $
0.
27
$0.17 $
0.69
$0.65
Adjusted 1 $
0.
27
$0.17 $
0.69
$0.80
Cash dividend paid per share $
0.0
95
$0.09 $
0.
375
$0.355
EBITDA1 $
1
5.8
$13.3 $
53.5
$62.6

“Exco completed the final quarter of fiscal 2020 with strong results achieved through exceptional cost controls and the dedication of our employees to working safely in challenging conditions” said Darren Kirk, Exco’s President and CEO. “We expect to build on this momentum in the year ahead with a number of new program launches providing outsized opportunity for growth”, added Kirk.

Fourth quarter consolidated sales were $100.7 million – a decrease of $21.1 million or 17% from the prior year. The decline in sales reflects the global impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s two segments. During the quarter, exchange rate movements increased sales by $1.3 million.

The Automotive Solutions segment experienced a 12% decrease in sales, or a reduction of $8.2 million, to $61.2 million from $69.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The decrease was driven by lower vehicle production volumes, the delay in certain new customer programs ramping up due to COVID-19 related disruptions and timing of accessory sales, which do not always correlate well with OEM production volumes. In North America, overall vehicle production was relatively flat during the quarter compared to a year ago while European vehicle production was down about 7%. Looking forward, OEM vehicle production volumes appear likely to improve slightly near term while Exco will additionally benefit from several new program launches as well as destocked inventory levels of accessory products in customer channels. . Quoting activity remains encouraging and we see ample opportunity to maintain our longer term trend of increasing our content per vehicle across our portfolio of businesses.

The Casting and Extrusion segment recorded sales of $39.5 million in the fourth quarter compared to $52.4 million last year – a decrease of $13.0 million or 25%. The sales decline was mainly driven by the deterioration of general economic conditions due to the impact of COVID-19, changes in product mix and delivery timing as well as lower steel costs generally. Within the segment, Extrusion group sales declined due to reduced market demand across most industry verticals for aluminum extrusions somewhat offset by stronger volumes contributed from the new Mexican operation. The Large Mould and Castool group sales were lower during the quarter due mostly to the timing of shipments and changes in product mix. More specifically, the Large Mould group recognizes sales based on a Complete Contract basis, contributing to fluctuations in sales from quarter to quarter given the relatively large size of their individual programs. As well, activity within the Large Mould group saw a delayed impact from the OEM production stoppages which occurred through much of the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The Large Mould group continued to work on certain programs during this time while reduced activity for die rebuilds associated with these lower volumes only occurred during the current quarter. Sales withing the Castool Group were dampened by a slowdown in the extrusion end market but also due to a change in product mix which was weighted significantly more towards consumable tooling components relative to larger capital products such as die-ovens and extrusion containers, which have greater raw material requirements. Looking forward, quoting activity within all groups in this segment is strong, particularly within the Large Mould group which is seeing heightened interest from both new and existing customers arising from its leading industry position.

The Company’s fourth quarter consolidated net income increased to $10.7 million or earnings of $0.27 per share compared to $6.8 million or earnings of $0.17 per share in the same quarter last year – an EPS increase of 59%. The effective income tax rate was negative 3% in the current quarter compared to 16% in the same quarter last year. The effective tax rate in the current period was improved by the reversal of $2.3 million of deferred tax liabilities from resolved tax exposures and $0.3 million of R&D tax credits net of certain foreign tax adjustments. Excluding these items, the effective tax rate was 22% in the current quarter.

Fourth quarter pre-tax earnings in the Automotive Solutions segment totalled $7.3 million, an improvement of $2.3 million or 46% over the same quarter last year. Despite lower sales, pre-tax profits increased in the quarter, benefiting from management’s efforts to control costs, improved efficiencies and a shift in demand to higher margin programs. In addition, current period results benefited from the Canadian wage subsidy program while the prior year results were adversely impacted by higher labour costs at Polytech and AFX, significant inefficiencies associated with program launches higher severance costs and inefficiencies related to the General Motors strike. Management is optimistic that its overall cost structure will be sustained or improved upon in future quarters as cost containment efforts are continued while volumes are anticipated to strengthen.

Pre-tax earnings in the Casting and Extrusion segment improved by $0.2 million or 5% over the same quarter last year to $4.2 million. The earnings improvement was driven by increased contributions from the Extrusion and Castool groups and benefits from the Canadian Government wage subsidy program. Margins in the Extrusion group benefited from lower raw material prices, increased operational efficiencies and improved absorption in Mexico, partially offset by a write-down of a customer receivable of $0.5 million. Although Castool’s sales were lower than the prior year quarter, profits similarly benefited from lower raw material costs, cost containment efforts as well as strong demand for higher value-added products. The Large Mould group profitability was negatively affected by lower activity and the timing of shipments. This was partially offset by increased operational efficiencies generated from capital investments from prior years and gradual increases in sales for additive manufacturing components through the quarter. Management remains focused on reducing its overall cost structure and improving manufacturing efficiencies and expects such activities together with its sales efforts should lead to improved segment profitability over time.

The Corporate segment in the fourth quarter recorded expenses of $1.1 million compared to $0.9 million last year mainly due to foreign exchange losses in the current quarter compared to gains last year’s quarter, partially offset by lower compensation, travel, and professional fees incurred in the current quarter. As a result of the forgoing, consolidated EBITDA in the quarter increased to $15.8 million (15.7% of sales) compared to $13.3 million (11% of sales) last year.

Exco generated cash from operating activities of $15.5 million during the quarter and $10.0 million of Free Cash Flow after $5.4 million in net capital expenditures. This cash flow was more than sufficient to fund $3.8 million of dividends and $3.2 million in share repurchases. For the year, Exco generated Free Cash Flow of $41.7 million and returned $24.1 million to shareholders through combined dividend payments and share repurchases. Exco ended the year with $26.6 million in net cash and $76.6 million in available liquidity, including $33.1 million of balance sheet cash, continuing its practice of maintaining a very strong balance sheet and liquidity position.

For further information and prior year comparison please refer to the Company’s Fourth Quarter Condensed Financial Statements in the Investor Relations section posted at www.excocorp.com. Alternatively, please refer to www.sedar.com.

1 Non-IFRS Measures: In this News Release, reference may be made to Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted EPS, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Pretax Profit and Free Cash Flow which are not measures of financial performance under International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). Exco calculates Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before other income/expense, interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by sales. Exco calculates adjusted EPS as earnings before other income/expense divided by the weighted average number of shares. Adjusted Net Income is calculated as net income before other income/expense, and Adjusted Pretax Profit as segmented earnings before other income/expense, interest and taxes. Free Cash Flow is calculated as cash provided by operating activities less interest paid less investment in fixed assets net of proceeds of disposal. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted EPS, pretax profit and Free Cash Flow are used by management, from time to time, to facilitate period-to-period operating comparisons and we believe some investors and analysts use these measures as well when evaluating Exco’s financial performance. These measures, as calculated by Exco, do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Refer to the table in the Management Discussion and Analysis for a reconciliation of these non-IFRS Measures.

Quarterly Conference Call:
December 3, 2020
10:00
a.m.(
Toronto time)

To access the live audio webcast, please log on to www.excocorp.com or https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/waffpdbt a few minutes before the event. Real Player is required for access. The conference call can be accessed by dialing toll free at (866) 572-8261 or internationally at (703) 736-7448. The conference ID is 1826929.

For those unable to participate on December 3, 2020, an archived version will be available on the Exco website.

Source: Exco Technologies Limited (TSX-XTC)
Contact Darren Kirk, President and Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (905) 477-3065 Ext. 7233
Website: http://www.excocorp.com

About Exco Technologies Limited:

Exco Technologies Limited is a global supplier of innovative technologies servicing the
die-cast
, extrusion and automotive industries. Through our 1
5
strategic locations in
7
countries, we employ
about
4,800
people
and service a diverse and broad customer base.

Notice
To
Reader: Forward Looking Statements

Information in this document relating to projected growth and financial performance of the Company’s business units, contribution of our start-up business units, contribution of awarded programs yet to be launched, margin performance, financial performance of acquisitions and operating efficiencies are forward-looking statements.

This press release may contain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. We use words such as “anticipate”, “plan”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “believe”, “estimate” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking information and statements especially with respect to growth and financial performance of the Company’s business units, contribution of our start-up business units, contribution of awarded programs yet to be launched, margin performance, financial performance of acquisitions, liquidity and operating efficiencies are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements throughout this document and are also cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. These forward-looking statements are based on our plans, intentions or expectations which are based on, among other things, the current uncertain global economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or similar outbreak of epidemic, pandemic, or contagious diseases that may emerge in the human population, which may have a material effect on how we and our customers operate our businesses and the duration and extent to which this will impact our future operating results, assumptions about the number of automobiles produced in North America and Europe, production mix between passenger cars and trucks, the number of extrusion dies required in North America and South America, the rate of economic growth in North America, Europe and emerging market countries, investment by OEMs in drivetrain architecture and other initiatives intended to reduce fuel consumption and/or the weight of automobiles in response to rising climate risks, raw material prices, economic conditions, currency fluctuations, trade restrictions, our ability to close or otherwise dispose of unprofitable operations in a timely manner, our ability to integrate acquisitions and the rate at which our operations in Brazil, and Mexico achieve sustained profitability. These forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which may cause actual results or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied. The Company will update its disclosure upon publication of each fiscal quarter’s financial results and otherwise disclaims any obligations to update publicly or otherwise revise any such factors or any of the forward-looking information or statements contained herein to reflect subsequent information, events or developments, changes in risk factors or otherwise. For a more extensive discussion of Exco’s risks and uncertainties see the ‘Risks and Uncertainties’ section in our latest Annual Report, Annual Information Form (“AIF”) and other reports and securities filings made by the Company. This information is available at www.sedar.com or www.excocorp.com.



Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. Purchases Assets and Clients of Adams County Financial Resources

Purchase Expected to Contribute Over $500,000 to Noninterest Income in 2021

ARCHBOLD, Ohio, Dec. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMAO) today announced that FM Investment Services, a division of Farmers & Merchants State Bank, has purchased the assets and clients of Adams County Financial Resources (“ACFR”), a full-service registered investment advisory firm located in Geneva, Indiana. FM Investment Services also announced the addition of Lorie A. Garwood as Vice President / Financial Advisor.

ACFR was founded in 1994 by R. Lee Flueckiger and provides clients and their families with financial confidence through personalized investment planning and services. At November 30, 2020, ACFR had approximately $83 million of assets under management and over 450 clients. The majority of ACFR’s business comes from Northeastern Indiana, and the typical customer has been with the company for 15 years on average. ACFR employees, including Mr. Flueckiger, have joined FM Investment Services.

Lars B. Eller, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: “ACFR has been helping individuals and their families for over 25 years and I look forward to working with Lee and his team. We are also excited to welcome ACFR’s clients to FM Investment Services, many of which already bank at F&M as a result of our 2019 Bank of Geneva acquisition.”

Mr. Eller continued, “Diversifying our sources of revenue is an important part of our growth strategy. ACFR significantly increases the scale of FM Investment Services, while further expanding our presence in Northeastern Indiana. We expect the purchase will contribute over $500,000 of revenue to noninterest income in 2021.”

“By partnering with FM Investment Services, Adams County Financial Resources is able to offer continued stability while introducing additional value-added services to our clients,” stated R. Lee Flueckiger. “F&M’s growing presence in Eastern Indiana is exciting and I look forward to working with the team at FM Investment Services.”

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp also announced that Lorie A. Garwood joined FM Investment Services as Vice President / Financial Advisor. Ms. Garwood has over 20 years of investment and banking experience throughout Western Ohio and Northeastern Indiana. Most recently, Ms. Garwood was an investment advisor at a community bank in Berne, Indiana. Ms. Garwood has an associate degree from the University of Northwestern Ohio.

“Lorie provides F&M with an experienced investment advisor who will support the growth and expansion of FM Investment Services throughout Eastern Indiana. FM Investment Services now has five investment advisors with approximately $260 million in assets under management. I am excited by the opportunities we have to grow FM Investment Services,” concluded Mr. Eller.

About Farmers & Merchants State Bank:

The Farmers & Merchants State Bank is a local independent community bank that has been serving Northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana since 1897. The Farmers & Merchants State Bank provides commercial banking, retail banking and other financial services through its offices. Our locations are in Fulton, Defiance, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Williams, and Wood counties in Northwest Ohio. In Northeast Indiana, we have offices located in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Jay, and Steuben counties.

Safe harbor statement

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (“F&M”) wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements by F&M, including management’s expectations and comments, may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties inherent in general and local banking conditions, competitive factors specific to markets in which F&M and its subsidiaries operate, future interest rate levels, legislative and regulatory decisions, capital market conditions, or the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on our credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions. F&M assumes no responsibility to update this information. For more details, please refer to F&M’s SEC filing, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such filings can be viewed at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or through F&M’s website www.fm.bank.

Company Contact: Investor and Media Contact:
Lars B. Eller
President and Chief Executive Officer
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc.
(419) 446-2501
[email protected]
Andrew M. Berger
Managing Director
SM Berger & Company, Inc.
(216) 464-6400
[email protected]